1964 Triumph Vitesse 6
£9,950
- Make
- Triumph
- Model
- Vitesse 6
- Year
- 1964
- Body
- Saloon
- Engine
- 4
Overview
A rare and well-preserved 1964 Triumph Vitesse 6, combining the nimble Herald platform with a smooth 1596cc straight-six engine. This exceptional early example has spent its entire life in Jersey with just a handful of owners, the last family keeping it from 1988 to 2020. Original factory condition is largely retained, with excellent pastel blue paintwork, immaculate interior trim, and genuine mileage under 63,000 miles supported by service records. Mechanically sound with recent brake and cooling system attention. Includes original owner's handbook and 1966 bill of sale.
From the Dealer
- •Original owner's handbook and service record log with 1966 bill of sale
- •Genuine mileage under 63,000 miles supported by service history
- •Excellent interior throughout: seats, door cards, dashboard, and headlining all in superior condition
- •Very good bodywork and pastel blue paintwork; limited restoration in 1998 as required
- •Recent mechanical work to brakes and cooling system; period radio fitted
About the Triumph Vitesse 6
▶
The Triumph Vitesse 6 was a sporting saloon positioned as a performance variant within Triumph's mid-range lineup. It featured a straight-six engine that distinguished it from the four-cylinder competition, offering a blend of practicality and driving engagement appealing to enthusiasts seeking something beyond basic transport. The car represented Triumph's attempt to compete in the European sports saloon market during the 1960s-70s, combining British engineering with continental styling sensibilities. Its inline-six engine was a key selling point, providing smoother operation and better refinement than many rivals while maintaining reasonable fuel economy for the era.
Pros
- +Smooth, characterful straight-six engine
- +Competent handling for period saloon
- +Practical four-door configuration
- +Good interior space and comfort
- +Affordable running costs relative to rivals
Watch out for
- −Rust-prone bodywork typical of British Leyland era
- −Interior trim quality inconsistent
- −Cooling system reliability concerns
Common issues
- !Rust in floor pans and sills
- !Overheating problems with period radiators
- !Electrical gremlins and corroded wiring harnesses
▶See full dealer details
Overview **Overall Comments** This is a quite exceptional example of an early and very original model of Triumph’s luxury small saloon. In very good condition throughout, having been in the hands of caring owners for many years, who have put it to relatively little use. The original owners handbook and service record log, together with a 1966 bill of sale are held for the vehicle. The car is registered and located in Jersey. We can assist the buyer with importation into the U.K., duties and transport costs being additional to the price listed. **Body** Both separate chassis and bodywork are in a very good condition. All brightwork is present and correct and the pastel blue paintwork is in excellent condition. Largely original, some limited bodywork repairs and re-painting as required were undertaken in 1998. **Mechanical** Mechanically, the Vitesse is in very good fettle and running well, with some minor works undertaken to the brakes and cooling system when we acquired the car. **Interior** The interior of the car is in particularly good condition – seats, front and rear, door cards, dashboard, door cappings and headlining - all excellent. The car does not have a sunroof fitted but does have a period radio. Asking Price £ 9,950 History When the Vitesse 6 was introduced in May 1962, Standard-Triumph created something of a stir, with the unusual combination of an existing compact car (the Triumph Herald) with a larger six-cylinder power plant to produce an up-market model with better performance from a smoother, more torquey engine, which made for a more pleasurable car to drive. The 2-door Triumph Herald (introduced in 1959) had sharp looks styled by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, who also provided the revised front end for the Vitesse, which featured a slanted 4-headlamp design. The Vitesse also received a more luxurious interior in comparison to the Herald, with better seats, doortrims and wooden door cappings to match the wooden dashboard. After 1963, a full range of Smith instruments was fitted to the Vitesse dashboard. The engine used is a 1596 cc version of the traditional straight-6 motor derived from the larger cars in the Standard-Triumph range, developing a claimed 70 bhp. The new Vitesse 6 sold very well for Triumph, receiving praise for its performance, fuel economy, interior design and tight turning circle. With over 30,000 manufactured by the time production ceased in September 1966, it was a better seller than the 2-litre Vitesse model introduced as its replacement. This car was first registered, new in Jersey, in September 1964. It has remained in the island all its life with only a handful of owners, the car having been in the same family from 1988 to 2020. The recorded mileage – under 63,000 – is genuine, supported by service history documents.
